Where treasurer candidates stand on issues
SPRINGFIELD - Democratic voters will choose between the office's current chief of staff and an investment expert at a private firm when they decide Feb. 2 who will face off against the Republican and Green Party nominees for state treasurer in November.
The Democratic primary for treasurer pits Robin Kelly against Justin Oberman.
Kelly, of Matteson enters the Democratic primary with experience working directly under current state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias as his chief of staff, as well as experience as a former state representative for southern Cook County.
Oberman, of Chicago, previously worked for the U.S. Department of Transportation and Homeland Security. He is currently employed with an investment firm specializing in transportation, aviation and security sectors.
Those experiences could strengthen both candidates' bids as they vie to become treasurer - the position responsible for the safekeeping and investment of state dollars. The four-year position pays $135,669, has an annual operating budget of roughly $25 million and 182 employees.
If elected, Oberman said his top priority will be rebuilding the state's economy and creating more jobs.
"I will also market Illinois to investors and extol our numerous valuable assets - cities and towns, schools and kids, and our work force - to bring investment to our state," the Democratic candidate said.
Oberman, 35, said securing state dollars is another top issue, citing recent losses and investigations into the state's college savings program known as Bright Start.
"I believe that a stronger commitment from the treasurer's office to monitor the investments in Bright Start could have averted or mitigated the disaster," Oberman said. "The treasurer's office knew that Bright Start was suffering abnormally high losses and did nothing for nearly nine months."
If elected, Oberman said his campaign would not accept money from banks, office employees or companies who receive funds from the treasurer's office.
Watchdogging the state's dollars will be the ultimate goal of Kelly's campaign as well, along with job creation and catalyzing new business. Kelly also added an environmental beam to her agenda by pledging support for green energy development.
On top of her current duties as the treasurer's chief of staff, Kelly, 53, touted her experience as a lawmaker and legislation that protected victims of consumer fraud and predatory lending. She also pointed to her experience as a director of community affairs for her hometown of Matteson.
She said she would support merging the comptroller's and treasurer's offices - something Oberman opposes.
"I believe the two offices play an important role in state government," Kelly said. "But there should be a responsible way to merge these two offices without jeopardizing the security of state funds."
Oberman, however, said commingling the two offices would water down the state's system of checks and balances.
"I believe that we are better off if the office responsible for investing and holding the state's finances (state treasurer) is separate from the office that cuts the checks (state comptroller)," Oberman said.
The winner of next month's Democratic primary will face Republican state Sen. Dan Rutherford of Chenoa in November, along with Green Party candidate Scott Summers of Harvard.